Downtown Disney…

As Superman producers Alexander and Ilya Salkind based the production of the SuperBoy TV Series at Universal Studios in Florida it was inevitable some items from the production would wind up in exhibition there. In fact, the Christopher Reeve Superman costume on display in the Downtown Disney Planet Hollywood restaurant was used for John Haymes Newton’s screentest (as shown on the SuperBoy:Season 1 Boxset) and appearing, bizarrely, as fancy dress in a two-part story in Season 2 worn by IIan Mitchell-Smith as And McCallister.

Suspended on a black velvet mannequin in ‘flight mode’ from the ceiling, the prop was hung in open space unguarded from the elements and showing signs of wear (note the hole in the bodysuit above the belt, (third pic) prompting its relocation/salvage years later to the entrance (see its upgrade here). Conversely, Gene Hackman’s Lex Luthor robe (preserved in pristine condition in a wall-mounted glass case, bottom pic) can be found in the stairwell to this day…